Device and method for picking up and placing objects

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for picking up individual objects or particles and placing them in containers or cavities filled with liquid. The invention allows in particular a simple handling of the objects and thus considerably reduces the operation costs of such a plant (FIG. 2 ). In this method and device, an adhesive is applied to an end portion of a transport structure. An object to be transported is held by the adhesive until it is delivered to the desired location.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for picking up and placing objects ( 14 ) comprising the method steps: 
       (a) immersing at least one portion ( 10 ) of a transport means ( 2 ) into a first liquid which is adhesive and/or contains adhesive substances in order to form an adhesive layer ( 12 ) at the portion ( 10 ) of the transport means ( 2 );  
       (b) removing the portion ( 10 ) from the first liquid;  
       (c) bringing the adhesive layer ( 12 ) formed on the transport means ( 2 ) in contact with the object ( 14 ) to be transported;  
       (d) transferring the object ( 14 ); and  
       (e) placing the object ( 14 ) to be transported by immersing the adhesive layer ( 12 ) into a second liquid in order to reduce the adhesion of the adhesive layer ( 12 ) at least so much that the object ( 14 ) is released from the portion ( 10 ) of the transport means ( 2 ).  
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein after formation of the adhesive layer ( 12 ) the portion ( 10 ) is subjected to a drying step in order to achieve a concentration of the adhesive substances contained in the first liquid. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of transport means ( 2 ) are arranged in an array as a transport unit ( 28 ) in order to transfer a plurality of objects ( 14 ) simultaneously. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the object ( 14 ) to be transported is placed by dissolution of the adhesive layer ( 12 ). 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the object ( 14 ) to be transported is placed by immersing the adhesive layer ( 12 ) into a mixture or solution. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive liquid contains viscous compounds. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the viscous compounds are polyethylene glycols or polypropylene glycols. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid containing adhesive substances is an aqueous sugar solution or concentrated saline solution. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the aqueous sugar solutions contain glucose, saccharose or maltose. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid into which the adhesive layer ( 12 ) is immersed in order to place the object ( 14 ) is water, comprises an aqueous buffer or saline solution, an organic solvent and/or separating reagents. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the separating reagents simultaneously cause the separation of compounds adhering to the object ( 14 ). 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the objects ( 14 ) to be transported are synthesis beads being used in combinatory solid-phase chemistry for drawing up combinatory substance libraries. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfer of the object ( 14 ) to be transferred is realized in that the latter is transported by means of the transport means ( 2 ). 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the transfer operation of the object ( 14 ) to be transferred is realized in that the latter is lifted and lowered by means of the transport means ( 2 ) and the transfer operation takes place by at least one change between an object picking device and an object placing device. 
     
     
       15. A method for picking up and placing objects ( 14 ) comprising the method steps: 
       (a) providing a transport unit ( 28 ) for a plurality of objects ( 14 ) to be transferred and comprising a plurality of projecting portions ( 10 ) each comprising an adhesive layer ( 12 );  
       (b) bringing in contact one projecting portion ( 10 ) of the transport unit ( 28 ) with a respective single object ( 14 ) to be transported;  
       (c) transferring the objects ( 14 ) adhering to the respective adhesive layers ( 12 ) by moving the transport unit ( 28 ); and  
       (d) placing the objects ( 14 ) by immersing the adhesive layer ( 12 ) into a liquid in order to reduce the adhesion of the adhesive layer ( 12 ) at least so much that the object ( 14 ) is released from the portion ( 10 ) of the transport unit ( 28 ).  
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the adhesive layer ( 12 ) is formed by immersion into a lint liquid being adhesive and/or comprising adhesive substances. 
     
     
       17. A method for picking up and placing objects ( 14 ) comprising the method steps: 
       (a) providing a transport means ( 2 ) comprising an end portion ( 10 ) for at least one object ( 14 ) to be transferred and being provided with an adhesive layer ( 12 );  
       (b) bringing in contact the adhesive layer ( 12 ) formed at the transport means ( 2 ) with the object ( 14 ) to be transported;  
       (c) transferring the object ( 14 ); and  
       (d) placing the object ( 14 ) to be transported by immersing the adhesive layer ( 12 ) into a second liquid in order to reduce the adhesion of the adhesive layer ( 12 ) at least so much that the object ( 14 ) is released from the portion ( 10 ) of the transport means ( 2 ).  
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17  wherein the transport means ( 2 ) is moved automatically by attaching it to a robot. 
     
     
       19. A method for picking up and placing objects ( 14 ) comprising the method steps: 
       (a) providing a transport unit ( 28 ) for a plurality of objects ( 14 ) to be transferred, comprising a plurality of transport means ( 2 ) arranged in an ray and each comprising projecting portions ( 10 ) each having an adhesive layer ( 12 );  
       (b) bringing in contact the transport unit with the objects ( 14 ) to be transported, wherein the individual transport means ( 2 ) are guided in an axially movable manner in order to grip objects ( 14 ) having different sizes;  
       (c) transferring the objects ( 14 ) adhering to the respective adhesive layers ( 12 ) by moving the transport unit ( 28 ); and  
       (d) placing the objects ( 14 ).  
     
     
       20. A device for picking up and placing objects ( 14 ) comprising a transport means ( 2 ) with a free end portion ( 10 ) having an adhesive layer ( 12 ) for holding an object ( 14 ) to be transported, wherein the composition of the adhesive layer ( 12 ) is selected so that the adhesive layer ( 12 ) reduces its adhesion upon immersion in a predetermined liquid at least so much that the object ( 14 ) is released from the end portion ( 10 ) of the transport means ( 2 ), wherein the transport means ( 2 ) is provided at a robot in order to be moved automatically. 
     
     
       21. The device according to  claim 20 , wherein the adhesive layer ( 12 ) is an adhesive layer formed by immersing at least the end portion ( 10 ) of the transport means ( 2 ) into a liquid, wherein the liquid is adhesive and/or contains adhesive substances. 
     
     
       22. The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the adhesive liquid comprises viscous compounds. 
     
     
       23. The device according to  claim 22 , wherein the viscous compounds are polyethylene glycols or polypropylene glycols. 
     
     
       24. The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the liquid comprising adhesive substances is an aqueous sugar solution or concentrated saline solution. 
     
     
       25. The device according to  claim 24 , wherein the aqueous sugar solutions contain glucose, saccharose or maltose. 
     
     
       26. The device according to  claim 20 , wherein a plurality of transport means ( 2 ) are arranged in an array as a transport unit ( 28 ) in order to transfer a plurality of objects ( 14 ) simultaneously. 
     
     
       27. The device according to  claim 20 , wherein the liquid into which the adhesive layer ( 12 ) is immersed in order to reduce its adhesion is a mixture or solution. 
     
     
       28. The device according to  claim 20 , wherein the liquid into which the adhesive layer ( 12 ) is immersed in order to place the object ( 14 ) is water, comprises an aqueous buffer or saline solution an organic solvent and/or separating reagents. 
     
     
       29. The device according to  claim 28 , wherein the separating reagents simultaneously cause the separation of compounds adhering to the object ( 14 ). 
     
     
       30. The device according to  claim 20 , wherein the objects ( 14 ) to be transported are synthesis beads being used in combinatory solid-phase chemistry for drawing up combinatory substance libraries. 
     
     
       31. A device for simultaneously picking up and placing a plurality of objects ( 14 ) comprising a plurality of transport means ( 2 ) being arranged in a transport unit ( 28 ), said transport means ( 2 ) having an adhesive layer ( 12 ) at their respective end portions ( 10 ), wherein the transport means ( 2 ) are guided in the transport unit ( 28 ) in an axially movable manner in order to grip objects ( 14 ) having different sizes. 
     
     
       32. A method for picking up and placing objects comprising the method steps: 
       (a) immersing at least one portion of a transport structure into a first liquid which is adhesive and/or contains adhesive substances in order to form an adhesive layer at the portion of the transport structure;  
       (b) removing the portion from the first liquid;  
       (c) contacting the adhesive layer with the object to be transported;  
       (d) transferring the object; and  
       (e) placing the object to be transported by immersing the adhesive layer into a second liquid in order to reduce the adhesion of the adhesive layer at least so much that the object is released from the portion of the transport structure.  
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32 , wherein the transport structure is a rod or a pin. 
     
     
       34. A method for picking up and placing objects comprising the method steps: 
       (a) providing a transport structure comprising an adhesive on at least a portion thereof;  
       (b) contacting the adhesive with the object to be transported;  
       (c) transferring the object; and  
       (d) placing the object by immersing the adhesive into a second liquid in order to reduce the adhesion of the adhesive layer at least so much that the object is released from the transport structure.  
     
     
       35. A method for picking up and placing objects comprising the method steps: 
       (a) providing a transport unit for a plurality of objects to be transferred, comprising a plurality of transport structures arranged in an array and each comprising projecting portions each having an adhesive layer;  
       (b) contacting the transport unit with the objects to be transported, wherein the individual transport structures are guided in an axially movable manner in order to grip objects having different sizes;  
       (c) transferring the objects adhering to the respective adhesive layers by moving the transport unit; and  
       (d) placing the objects.  
     
     
       36. A device for picking up and placing objects comprising a transport structure comprising an adhesive on at least a portion thereof for holding an object to be transported, wherein the composition of the adhesive is selected so that the adhesive reduces its adhesion upon immersion in a predetermined liquid at least so much that the object is released from the transport structure and wherein the transport structure is provided at a robot in order to be moved automatically. 
     
     
       37. The device of  claim 36 , wherein the transport structure is a rod or a pin. 
     
     
       38. A device for simultaneously picking up and placing a plurality of objects comprising a plurality of transport structures being arranged in a transport unit, said transport structures having an adhesive, wherein the transport structures are guided in the transport unit in an axially movable manner in order to grip objects having different sizes.